Handgrip for bathtubs



April 17, 1951 T. MOORE 2,549,506-

HANDGRIP FOR BATH TUBS Filed Sept", 26, 1946 INVENTOR. Thom a; Moor 6 BYFTT'DRNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES BATENT OFFICE 2,549,506 7I Q I HANDGRIP FORBATHTUBS Thomas Moore," Clinton, Iowa 7 ApplicationSeptember 26, 1946, Serial No. 699,449

'1 Claim. (01. 4 1s5 My invention pertains to an auxiliary device usablewith bath tubs.

An object of my invention is to provide a hand grip for baths tubs whichis mounted adjacent to the bath tub, and which, therefore, providesespecially, means for getting out of the bath tub without slipping, andproviding an arrangement for obtaining a firm grip whereby the bath tuboccupant can safely and readily remove himself therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide adjustable features forregulating the arrangement as to height, and to provide an arrangementwhich can be used on either built in tubs or the leg type of tub.

A further object of my invention is to provide a very simple arrangementhaving no protruding parts, and which requires a minimum number ofpoints for securingthe same adjacently to the bath tub.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hand grip as attached to a built intype of tub,

Figure 2 is a forward elevation of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side view of the arrangement as attached'to a leg type ofbath tub,

Figure 4 is a detail, and

Figure 5 is a further slight modification.

I have used the character in to designate a built in type of bath tub,and the character ll the top ledge thereof. Since this top ledge isrelatively smooth and has no projections, it is many times difficult forobese or older people to safely get out of a bath tub without injury,and even to enter the same.

I have used the character IE to designate a pair of internally threadedhollow cylindrical sleeves, which are attached to the base flanges l3which flanges 13 are secured by means of the counter-sunk screws l4to'the fioor. l5 adjacent to the bath tub. It will be noted that thereare a pair of the members l2, and threadably engaged therewith are thefurther vertically positioned side Wall 24 of the tub l0.

2 short stub pipes 22 which abut at 23 against the Inserted within themembers I8 at the lower ends thereof are the plugs 25 which are attachedat 26 to the rubber bumpers 21, similar bumpers 28 being attached at thetermination of the pipes 22.

It will now be noted that the hand. grip as above described is sturdy inconstruction, and will allow the graspment thereof by a person leavingthe bath tub thereby rendering the person safe from injury by slippingor otherwise falling. This arrangement allows any lateral strains to beimparted to it, and when entering the tub the pressure is usuallydownwardly against the rim II, and when leaving the tub the abutment ofthe pipeportions l8 and 22 provide the maximum strength for safetypurposes.

Any adjustment for the height of bath tub can be regulated by merelyturning the sleeves l2 along the threads until the desired height isobtained, and Figure 3 illustrates the use of the same arrangement witha leg type bath tub, in which this type of bath tub is indicated by thecharacter 29 having the legs 30, and the curved upper rim 3|. It will benoted that in this structure the sleeves l2 are turned until the upperportions l6 are extending to the necessary higher elevation, and forthis use a longer pair of pipes 32 are threadably engaged at the samepoints 2|, and clamped onto the pipes 32 at 33 are the clamps 34 whichthreadably receive bolts 35 for abutment at 36 against the innerportions of the rim 3|. This also provides a rigidified structure forthe same purpose as above described.

In the event that the adjustment is not used, in some cases the sleevesl2 and the portions Hi can be welded together solidly, although theadjustable method is the preferred one.

As a further modification, the portion I6 and the sleeves I2 need notbethreaded at all, the portion it merely being closely and slidablyengaged within the members [2, this arrangement still providing the sameprinciples as outlined above and being as substantial as the same andfurthermore also providing the adjustment necessary readily. Thisstructure will also be stable since the pressure will always bedownwardly or laterally.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification wherein the vertical tubularportions 18 receive the plugs 31 to which are attached suction cups 38which rest upon the ledge ll. cups will tend to grip the surface of thetub, although the suction cup type is merely a modification and need notbe used.

In this type of structure the I It will be noted that the onlyattachments made to external frameworks adjacent to the bath tub are bymeans of the screws through the flanges l 3, thus rendering theapparatus easy ofinstallation, etc.

It will now be seen that I have provided the various advantagesmentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages beingreadily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date DeCamps Nov. 5, 1907 Number

